ARMENIAN POEMS & LEGENDS
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A GREAT READ FOR ALL AGES!
In this illustrated volume, which is a mere sampler of Armenian literature, you will find poetry and laments that equal those of Shakespeare in their zeal and fervour. You will also find folk-songs that weep tears for the fate of Armenia, that cry out for freedom and liberty, that burst with the love of a woman for her man and of nightingales singing to babes in cradles.
You will also find the key legends of Armeniaof Vahagn, King of Armenia, deified on account of his valour, of Princess Santoukhd, martyred by her father King Sanadroug for becoming a Christian, of Semiramis love for Ara, so strong that she thought she could will him back to life. So curl up with this unique and exquisite piece of literature and be swept away by the passion of fourteen hundred years of Armenian poetry.
Sitting astride an arm of the Silk Route, Armenia has been invaded and occupied at various times by Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and the Seljuk Turks, to name but a few. In the fifth century, Armenia became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its national religion. Therefore, even a short outline of Armenian folklore and poetry must acknowledge the influences that have served to shape Armenian literature. These influences reflect the interwoven remnants of an intricate tapestry of ancient and modern cultures, legends, songs, and fragments of epics, creating a unique cultural and linguistic identity.
Over the plains of Armenia towers Mount Ararat, on which, the Bible states, Noahs Ark rested after the flood. Here also is the traditional site of the Garden of Eden, and the four rivers described in the book of Genesis as rising in the Garden still flow through the land of Armenia.
Excerpt from ARMENIAN POEMS & LEGENDS
THE EXILE'S SONG
An Armenian Folk Song
BELOVÈD one, for thy sweet sake,
By whirlwinds tossed and swayed I roam;
The stranger's accents round me wake
These burning thoughts that wander home.
No man such longings wild can bear
As in my heart forever rise.
Oh that the wind might waft me there
Where my belovèd's vineyard lies!
Oh that I were the zephyr fleet,
That bends her vines and roses sweet.
For I am piteous and forlorn,
As is the bird that haunts the night;
Who inconsolably doth mourn
Wheneer his rose is from his sight.
Oer earth and ocean, everywhere
I gaze in vain, with weary eyes.
Oh that the wind might waft me there
Where my belovèd's vineyard lies!
Oh that I were the zephyr fleet
That bends her vines and roses sweet.
I would I were yon cloud so light,--
Yon cloudlet driven before the wind.
Or yonder bird with swift-winged flight:
My heart's true way I soon would find!
Oh, I would be the wind so fleet
That bends her vines and roses sweet.
VAHAGN, KING OF ARMENIA
From the History of Armenia,
by MOSES OF KHORENE
(Fifth Century)
CONCERNING the birth of this king the legends say--
"Heaven and earth were in travail,
And the crimson waters were in travail.
And in the water, the crimson reed
Was also in travail.
From the mouth of the reed issued smoke,
From the mouth of the reed issued flame.
And out of the flame sprang the young child.
His hair was of fire, a beard had he of flame,
And his eyes were suns."
With our own ears did we hear these words sung to the accompaniment of the harp. They sing, moreover, that he did fight with the dragons, and overcame them; and some say that his valiant deeds were like unto those of Hercules. Others declare that he was a god, and that a great image of him stood in the land of Georgia, where it was worshipped with sacrifices.
Table of Contents for ARMENIAN POEMS & LEGENDS
INTRODUCTION |
ARMENIA'S LOVE TO SHAKESPEARE |
REPROACHES |
A TRIAL OF ORTHODOXY |
. |
ARMENIAN LEGENDS AND POEMS |
THE EXILE'S SONG |
THE APPLE TREE |
MY HEART IS TURNED INTO A WAILING CHILD |
O NIGHT, BE LONG |
BLACK EYES |
YESTERNIGHT I WALKED ABROAD |
VAHAGN, KING OF ARMENIA |
HUNTSMAN, THAT ON THE HILLS ABOVE |
LIBERTY |
I BEHELD MY LOVE THIS MORNING |
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE BEAR |
INCENSE |
THE LITTLE LAKE |
SPRING |
CRADLE SONG |
ARA AND SEMIRAMIS |
LAMENT OVER THE HEROES FALLEN IN THE BATTLE OF AVARAIR |
THE SONG OF THE STORK |
YE MOUNTAIN BLUEBELLS |
THE SUN WENT DOWN |
BIRTHDAY SONG |
THE FOUNDING OF VAN |
I HAVE A WORD I FAIN WOULD SAY |
THE SONG OF THE PARTRIDGE |
THE LILY OF SHAVARSHAN |
CRADLE SONG |
THE WIND IS HOWLING THROUGH THE WINTER NIGHT |
THE ARMENIAN POET'S PRAYER |
THE CHRAGAN PALACE |
THE DREAM |
THE SORROWS OF ARMENIA |
ARTASHES AND SATENIK |
MY DEATH |
THE EAGLE'S LOVE |
CONCERNING THE ROSE AND THE NIGHTINGALE |
THE ARRIVAL OF THE CRUSADERS |
LIKE AN OCEAN IS THIS WORLD |
THE ROCK |
THE CRANE |
THE HAWK AND THE DOVE |
ARTAVASD |
. |
CHARM VERSES |
THE TEARS OF ARAXES |
THE EVE OF ASCENSION DAY |
"THY VOICE IS SWEET" |
CHRIST AND ABGARUS |
ARAXES CAME DEVOURINGLY |
THE PARROT'S SONG |
EARTH AND SKY |
OER THE MOUNTAINS HIGH HE WENT |
COMPLAINTS |
A DAY AFTER |
WITHOUT THEE WHAT ARE SONG AND DANCE TO ME? |
THE LAKE OF VAN |
SPRING |
THE FOX |
THE TALE OF ROSIPHELEE |
THE SONG OF THE VULTURE |
DANCE SONG |
BALLAD |
NO BIRD CAN REACH THE MOUNTAIN'S CREST |
THE NIGHTINGALE OF AVARAIR |
THOU ART SO SWEET |
THE WANDERING ARMENIAN TO THE SWALLOW |
THE CHRIST-CHILD |
THE CASTLE OF ANOUSH |
HAPPINESS |
CONCERNING DEATH |
LOVE ONE ANOTHER |
PASQUA ARMENA |
"IO VIDI" |
. |
ARMENIA - ITS EPICS, FOLK-SONGS, AND MEDIAEVAL POETRY |
MOSES OF ? |
THE ADOPTION OF CHRISTIANITY |
GOLDEN AGE OF ARMENIAN LITERATURE |
MIDDLE AGES |
BAGRATUNI DYNASTY |
THE CRUSADES |
SILVER AGE OF ARMENIAN LITERATURE |
END OF THE ARMENIAN KINGDOM |
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY AND ONWARDS |
CHARACTERISTICS OF ARMENIAN POETRY |
THE RUSSIAN ERA |
. |
ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA |
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